Republic of Senegal

National name: République du Sénegal

President: Abdoulaye Wade (2000)

Prime Minister: Macky Sall (2004)

Land area: 74,131 sq mi (191,999 sq km); total area: 756,985 sq mi (1,960,582 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 11,987,121 (growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 32.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 52.9/1000; life expectancy: 59.2; density per sq mi: 162

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Dakar, 2,476,400

Monetary unit: CFA Franc

Languages: French (official); Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Ethnicity/race: Wolof 43.3%, Fulani 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%, Mandingo 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Religions: Islam 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous 1%

Literacy rate: 40% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $20.44 billion; per capita $1,700. Real growth rate: 5.2%. Inflation: 1.7%. Unemployment: 48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.). Arable land: 13%. Agriculture: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish. Labor force: 4.82 million (2005 est.); agriculture 77%, industry and services 23% (1990 est.). Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, ship construction and repair. Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore. Exports: $1.526 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton. Imports: $2.405 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels. Major trading partners: India, Mali, France, Italy, Spain, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Nigeria, Thailand (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 234,916 (2001); mobile cellular: 373,965 (2001). Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001). Radios: 1.24 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997). Televisions: 361,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002). Internet users: 100,000 (2002).

Transportation: Railways: total: 906 km (2002). Highways: total: 14,576 km; paved: 4,271 km; unpaved: 10,305 km (2000). Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river. Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor. Airports: 20 (2002).

International disputes:separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and political instability in Guinea-Bissau.


 

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